Men's Water Polo Adds Four California Natives from the Class of 2015

The Harvard men’s water polo team welcomes four members
from the Class of 2015 this fall. All four players hail from
California, giving the Crimson team 12 athletes from the Golden
Gate State. The Class of 2015 includes two 2-meter players, an
attacker and a utility player.

“I am very excited for my first recruited class of
men’s water polo players here at Harvard,” Minnis said.
“We have brought in four very talented scholar athletes, who
are going to come in and help us right away in the water. They all
come from great high school and club programs, and are ready to
make the jump to college water polo.”

The Crimson boasted a 12-16 overall record last fall , giving
the Crimson its most victories since 2007. Harvard finished fifth
at the CWPA Northern Championships, equaling its finish from the
previous season.

John Holland-McCowan, Atherton, Calif./Menlo
School
A four-year letterwinner in water polo … Earned Junior
Olympics Platinum Division All-America honorable mention in 2009
… A NISCA All-America fourth-team and High School
All-America second team in 2010 … Named Peninsula Athletic
League MVP, All Central Coast Section Division 2 Player of the Year
and San Mateo County Player of the Year in 2010 … Named MVP
of the CCS Division 2 All-Star Game as a senior … Earned
High School All-America 10th-team, All-CCS Division 2 first-team,
Palo Alto Daily News Prep All-Star first-team and
Peninsula Athletic League Co-MVP in 2009 … Selected to the
all-region team at the Northern California ODP Regional
Championships and attended national team selection camps in 2010
… His club team, Stanford Water Polo, won gold at the
National Junior Olympics (U16) and silver at the U.S. Club Water
Polo Championships (U16) in 2008 … Named CIF/FARMERS and CCS
Male scholar athlete of the year as a senior … Received
Menlo School’s Highest Honors twice and Faculty Honors once
… Named USA Water Polo Academic All-American as a junior and
senior … Started the Kids Cheerking Kids chapter at Menlo
School … Launched global youth service project “Kids
Cheering Kids Menlo, Calif. –Swazi. One Mile at a Time”
to raise awareness and funds for children with HIV/AIDS in
Swaziland … Volunteered at Lucille Salter Children’s
Hospital … Participated in Menlo School’s Knight
School trip to Botswana, Africa … Won numerous awards for
his community service efforts, including the Human Relations Award
of Special Merit from the Country of Santa Clara Human Relations
Commission …Father, Phillip, played baseball at Arizona and
San Jose in the 1960’s.

Evan Ramsey, Irvine, Calif/.Corona Del Mar
Three year varsity participant in water polo and one-year swimmer
at Corona Del Mar High School … Captained water polo team as
a senior … Named to the SOPAC Olympic Development
“A” team … Earned all-county, All-Pacific Coach
League and All-CIF honors as a senior … Named most
inspirational and most valuable offensive player by high school
team … Earned a spot on the Newport Daily Pilot
“Dream Team” in final season … Led the Pacific
Coach League in steals, was second in field blocks and third in
assists … Was undefeated in swim-offs in 2011 …
College Board AP Scholar with Honor and National Merit Commended
Scholar …. Was a 2010 USA Water Polo Academic All-American
… Newport Harvard Exchange Club “Youth of the
Year”

Ryan Rule, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos
Verdes
Played three years of water polo … Named All-Bay League
second team in 2009 and 2010 … Received second-team All-CIF
honors in 2010 … High school team was Division IV CIF
Southern Section Champions in 2009 … A California
Scholarship Federation Lifetime Member … National Honor
Society.

Max Murphy, San Mateo, Calif./Junipero Serra High
School
Played water polo and swam at Junipero Serra High School …
Captained water polo team in final season … Named San
Mateo Daily Journal Boy’s Water Polo Player of the Year
… Was a first-team WCAL selection in 2009 and 2010 and
first-team All-CCS in 2009 and 2010 … Received
California/Hawaii All-American honorable mention … NISCA
fourth-team All-American … Team MVP … Scored 119
goals in final season for the third most goals in a single season
at Serra High School … Ranks fifth in goals at Serra with
215 …Class Valedictorian … Earned the Rensselaer
Medal Award … Made the Principle’s list from 2007-11
… Member of student government, mock trial, Big Brothers,
the ski and snowboard club and jazz band … Volunteer at Camp
St. Andrew’s.